Tata Indica V2 (2018)

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

14 years back, Tata launched their first ever passenger car, Indica. This car has been a great hit in our Indian car market. Despite having new versions of Indica, Tata is not ready to leave its original Indica V2 and that’s the reason why this car is still under production. Let’s get into the detailing of this successful car.

Exterior

Tata has never played with the original design of Indica and that gets clear as soon as you see this car. The big bonnet, wide front windshield and angular headlights are some of the characteristic features of Indica which can also be seen in this car. The bonnet features two sharp lines on both sides which nicely lead to its front bumper. This bumper comes with edgy lines which complements the twin layered chrome strips on its front grille. This grille looks attractive with a big chrome bar placed on the tip of its bonnet. The lower part of its front bumper gets divided into three parts with round shaped fog lights on both sides. The car also gives away the wheel arches and comes with all new 13 inches 8-spoke alloy wheels. These alloy wheels gives sporty look to this car and looks premium with body colored outside rear view mirrors and door handles. There are no side mouldings in this car and the panel gaps are much less than before. Move at the back and you will notice the tall, multi-layered tail lights of Indica integrated with rear fog lamps. The car gets restyled rear bumper with sharp lines while you will also notice its out-dated square shaped rear glass and wide boot gate.

Interior

The new Indica features dual tone colors inside and gets fabric seats with fabric on its door trims. The four-spoke steering wheel looks premium inside while you will also notice improved quality of plastics. The car can be easily occupied by 5 adults. There is enough head room and shoulder room at its front. The rear passengers will also be satisfied by the knee and shoulder room. The rear seats though lack optimum back support and that’s quite evident on long journeys.

Comfort and Convenience

The top variant of Indica V2 comes loaded with all modern features to provide you optimum comfort. It has powerful AC with heater, power steering, front power windows, parcel shelf, 2-way adjustable front headrests, remote boot opener and Lumbar support for front seats.

Dashboard and Storage

The dashboard of Indica V2 gets new dark shade while the texture and design remains intact. The plastic quality isn’t up to the mark as few buttons on its central console feels quite harsh to touch. The instrument cluster features twin circular dials for its analogue speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge. The new wooden finish on its central console adds premium touch to this car and it looks quite impressive. This dashboard features a lockable glove box which is quite spacious and also comes with two cup holders. The front doors come with magazine/storage pockets. Apart from its rear parcel tray, Indica has a boot capacity of 220 ltr which can be extended further by folding down its split rear seats.

Music System

Surprisingly, the central console of Indica V2 comes with an integrated music system. It’s a radio/MP3 player with USB and Aux input. The car also features Bluetooth connectivity which enables you to take/make calls while driving.

Engine and Gearbox

Indica V2 is powered by a 1396cc, 4-cylinder BS3 diesel engine. This SOHC engine generates a peak power of 54 Bhp at 5500 rpm. The maximum torque output of this engine is of 85 Nm which is accessible at 2500 rpm. This engine is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox.

Acceleration and Performance

There is hardly anything impressive about the performance of this engine. The heavy weight of this car eats up all the power of this engine. The less amount of torque is also a major concern as the car faces major turbo lag. It’s quite hard to move this car in city traffic as the turbo kicks in around 2500rpm and till then there is nothing much in this engine. Yes, the short initial gear ratios help you a lot in city traffic but it’s not that easy either to use them frequently due to the heavy clutch and gearbox of this car. The engine is also low on refinement and makes a lot of noise when rev hard and that’s quite disturbing on long trips. The top speed of the car ranges from 110km/hr-120km/hr.

Tata Indica V2 Mileage and Safety Features

Tata Indica V2 gives you an overall fuel efficiency of around 15-17km/ltr. The car comes with safety features like central locking with remote, child lock on rear doors and collapsible steering.

Suspension and Brakes

The car comes with independent suspension system at its both ends. It features disc brakes at its front and drum brakes at the back.

Ride and Handling

The ride and handling of this car would have been much better if it had wider tyres and superior suspension system. The potholes manage to bother you inside while its small tyres fail to provide grip to this car. Its wheelbase of 2400mm and ground clearance of 165mm improves its aerodynamics and try to make it stable at high speeds but the car loses around sharp corners. The handling of Indica V2 is not satisfactory also as it requires effort from your side and it feels detached from road at high speeds.

Shades, Variants and Warranty

The four variants of Indica V2 are available in four different shades. It comes with a warranty of 2 years/75000 kilometres from Tata.

Verdict

There is almost no other diesel car available in India which is as economical, feature rich and spacious as Indica V2. The car certainly lacks a refined and powerful engine but at this price, it’s too much to ask for. Moreover, it returns a good mileage and comes with easy availability of spare parts. If low running expenses are your priority then we feel it’s a perfect car for you.